Help a Clam heal?

[Prophet]

My clam got into a fight with my peppermint shrimp and unfourtantly was damaged pretty bad. The peppermint shrimp got into a fight with me and unfourtantly he has to leave now. So while the shrimp sits in a bucket waiting for my friend to come down and pick it up the clam is safe to heal. But can it heal? It has been two days now and I am expecting to see it die but it is still moving and looks like it is still feeding so what can I do to help the clam heal if it is possiable? Anything I can add to the tank? It is a crocea clam.

[Mugster]

Check out the forum on Clamsdirect.com (http://www.clamsdirect.com) for suggestions and help with your clam. I've found the info there very helpful.



Kev :wave:

[Prophet]

Tried them. Did a search and didn't really find anything useful.

[lotus02]

Hi just got back from IMAC. I had very interesting talks with Barry owner of Clams Direct great guy.
On to your question ,how bad has your clam been hurt? If you can get a picture of it that would be great.
First off is it gapping? What sort of injury did your clam receive.

[Prophet]

Hi just got back from IMAC. I had very interesting talks with Barry owner of Clams Direct great guy.
On to your question ,how bad has your clam been hurt? If you can get a picture of it that would be great.
First off is it gapping? What sort of injury did your clam receive.

I wish I could but my camera lost a fight with my two year old. lol....

Let me try to explain it. On the intake side of the clam I can see right through that hold into the other side of it. He is moving because when I put my hand in there to check on him he closes but he seems to be a trooper because like I said it has been two days now and still looking like he wants to live. I want to try to save him but not sure how to help him heal.

[lotus02]

Is the hole in the mantle?
How big is the hole?
Are the mantels still fully extended?
Try to baby it along bottle feed it either DTs or Reefcrew Phytoplankton.
Give it time to recover, if it is still responding to light it's a good sign.
Many times if shrimp or other scavengers start picking at a clam it usually means the clam is weak.
Best of luck.

[Prophet]

Is the hole in the mantle?
How big is the hole?
Are the mantels still fully extended?
Try to baby it along bottle feed it either DTs or Reefcrew Phytoplankton.
Give it time to recover, if it is still responding to light it's a good sign.
Many times if shrimp or other scavengers start picking at a clam it usually means the clam is weak.
Best of luck.

When I put the clam in the first time the peppermint shrimp was eyeballing it. It hasn't been the first thing it killed.

The hole is in the back and slightly to the side of the clam. I ps'd real quick where the damage is:

http://www.dnaracing.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/clam.jpg

The mantle is not fully extended. How do you bottle feed a clam?

[lotus02]

Using a 2L pop bottle cut the bottom off save the upper potion. Place this over the top of the clam and use a turkey baster inject phytoplankton or DT's into the bottle leave this over the clam for at least 2 hours.
Are the mantals retracted into the clam or just pinched in a bit?

[Prophet]

The mantle is not retracted all the way into the clam but it isn't fully extended either. It is like hanging but not fully fluffed up and all the way out. I have been feeding marine snow and phytoplankton. Forgive my ignorince but what is DT's?

Since this is only a 20 gallon I am going to use a 24oz soda bottle. Anything else I can do to help it. I really want to try and save this guy. Thanks for your help!

[lotus02]

DT's is live phytoplankton.
What kind of phytoplankton are you feeding?
If you are feeding ReefCrew that is ok to either one will be good for your clam.

[Prophet]

My LFS only has ReefCrew so that might be why I never heard of DT's lol...


Fifth day and the clam is still going strong. I am going to keep bottle feeding it until it heals. The hold is smaller now and the mantle on one side is trying to extend all the way. The mantle where it feeds is still kind of inside the shell. I am going to keep the water clean and water levels straight as much as I can. I am hoping it doesn't get infected and if not then I think the clam is on its way to a complet recovery.

[lotus02]

That's good to hear.

[Prophet]

Well the clam passed away today. Not sure what happened. Probably an infection on the inside I could not see. He healed up and was doing fine but today his mantle was all shrivled up and inside but not closed. I will give it till tommorow but he is not even responding to light or anything. I even pushed on the shell a bit to see if I could get any kind of reaction but nothing. So if he is not moving tommorow morning I am going to have to take him out.

[RonPeter]

Sorry to hear that...it hurts to lose an animal and it hurts even more when you try to help them heal as much as you have. Good luck.

[lotus02]

Well you can't say you didn't try ,you did your best that is all you could do.
I know how it feels , just lost one of my nice clams with the transfer. It sucks loosing anything from the tank.

[Prophet]

Thanks guys.... I had to take him out today. The tank was starting to smell pretty bad and I knew then that it was because of him. I really thought he was going to make it.

[Mugster]

Thanks guys.... I had to take him out today. The tank was starting to smell pretty bad and I knew then that it was because of him. I really thought he was going to make it.


Sorry for your loss. :(

That's one of the problems with clams. Once they die it doesn't take long before they start to really stink and mess up the water.

Here's a suggestion. Keep the clam shell halves. You can use them later to place clams on rather than having them attach to the bottom of the tank or wherever you place them. It makes moving them for feeding or relocation so much easier.

Better luck next time. :thumbsup:



Kev :twitch:

[Prophet]

Sorry for your loss. :(

That's one of the problems with clams. Once they die it doesn't take long before they start to really stink and mess up the water.

Here's a suggestion. Keep the clam shell halves. You can use them later to place clams on rather than having them attach to the bottom of the tank or wherever you place them. It makes moving them for feeding or relocation so much easier.

Better luck next time. :thumbsup:



Kev :twitch:

Thanks all ready did that. I keeped both shells. Wasn't going to spend $80.00 and not have anything to show for it.:bsad: